Versatile magnetic microdiscs for the radio enhancement and mechanical disruption of glioblastoma cancer cells

This study describes the use of highly versatile, lithographically defined magnetic microdiscs. Gold covered magnetic microdiscs are used in both radiosensitizing cancer cells, acting as intracellular emitters of secondary electrons during radiotherapy, and as well as inducing mechanical damage by exerting a mechanical torque when exposed to a rotating magnetic field. This study reveals that lithographically defined microdiscs with a uniform size of 2 microns in diameter highly increase the DNA damage and reduce the glioblastoma colony formation potential compared to conventional radiation therapy. Furthermore, the addition of mechanical disruption mediated by the magnetic component of the discs increased the efficiency of brain cancer cell killing.

First study demonstrating the use of physically engineered magnetic particles that display two functionalities for cancer treatment.     

Catechol-bearing imidazolium and benzimidazolium chlorides as promising antimicrobial agents

Catechol-containing imidazolium (four) and benzimidazolium chlorides (eight) were synthesized to evaluate their antimicrobial properties. All the compounds were fully characterized using ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopic methods, and elemental analyses. Antimicrobial activities of the compounds were tested against the bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis, and the fungal strains Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, and promising results were achieved. The two most important benzyl-substituted benzimidazolium chlorides, 3l and 3k , showed comparable activity to vancomycin against MRSA.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the femoral cartilage thickness in patients with chronic renal failure

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic renal failure (CRF) on the distal femoral cartilage thickness by using ultrasonography and to determine the relationship between cartilage thickness and certain disease-related parameters. Design Fifty-seven CRF patients (41 male and 16 female) (mean [SD] age, 44.7 [12.1] years) and 60 healthy controls (41 male and 19 female) (mean [SD] age, 43.5 [13.3] years) were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Cartilage thickness measurements were taken from the medial and lateral condyles, and intercondylar areas of both knees. Results Groups were similar in terms of age, weight, height, body mass index and gender (all p>0.05). The mean cartilage thickness was found to be less in CRF patients than in controls (statistically significant for medial condyles and intercondylar areas both in right and the left knees [all p<0.05]). Cartilage thickness showed no correlation with eGFR, and with the levels of serum urea, creatinine, calcium, magnesium, phosphor, hemoglobin, uric acid and as well as steroid use (all p>0.05) in CRF patients. Conclusion In the light of our findings, we imply that patients with CRF have thinner femoral cartilage than healthy controls. This result may support the view that patients with CRF are at increased risk for developing early knee osteoarthritis. Last but not least, clinicians should be aware of the importance of rehabilitation strategies aimed at decreasing onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis in patients with CRF.     

Effect of long-term <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> infection on growth of children: a cohort study

Background

The effects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection on growth are a controversial issue. We investigated the effects of long-term H. pylori infection on height and weight in children.

Methods

A total of 200 children of 7-18 years old suffering from dyspeptic complaints were classified into two groups: H. pylori positive and negative groups, respectively. Whether the infection was impoved was followed up while performing urea breath test, and according to exposure time to the infection, the children were further divided into group 1 (≤1.5 months), group 2 (>1.5-≤6 months) and group 3 (>6 months). Antropometric measurements were obtained and repeated every six months.

Results

Mean growth velocity scores in the H. pylori positive and negative groups were 0.49±3.85 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.21-1.18] and 1.98±4.42 (95% CI: 1-2.96), respectively. The difference between both groups was statistically significant (P=0.012). Mean growth velocity scores in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 0.96±3.84, 0.16±4.51 and -0.85±3.09, respectively. Mean growth velocity scores of group 3 were significantly lower than those of groups 0 and 1 (P=0.005 and P=0.041). The mean weight scores in group 3 were similar to those in group 2, but the scores in group 3 were significantly lower than those in group 1 (-1.75±1.05, -1.21±1.37 and -0.88±1.49, respectively).

Conclusion

As the duration of exposure is prolonged in children with H. pylori infection, the negative effect of the infection on both height and weight is evident.

     

Perinatal trauma with and without loss experiences

Objective: The present study explored differences in mental health between women who experienced a trauma which involved a loss of fetal or infant life compared to women whose trauma did not involve a loss (difficult childbirth). Method: The sample consisted of 144 women (mean age = 31.13) from the UK, USA/Canada, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, who had experienced either stillbirth, neonatal loss, ectopic pregnancy, or traumatic birth with a living infant in the last 4 years. Results: The trauma without loss group reported significantly higher mental health problems than the trauma with loss group (F (1,117) = 4.807, p = .03). This difference was observed in the subtypes of OCD, panic, PTSD and GAD but not for major depression, agoraphobia and social phobia. However, once previous mental health diagnoses were taken into account, differences between trauma groups in terms of mental health scores disappeared, with the exception of PTSD symptoms. Trauma groups also differed in terms of perceived emotional support from significant others. Conclusion: The findings illustrate the need for a change in the focus of support for women’s birth experiences and highlighted previous mental health problems as a risk factor for mental health problems during the perinatal period.